Cases-De-Pène combines hiking destinations with local history and architectural heritage. Two routes lead to the Notre-Dame-de-Pène Hermitage and the former Torre del Far signal tower. The Agly’s location and the architecture of the village also offer useful points of reference for planning a trip: the landscape, culture and winegrowing each reveal a different side of Cases-De-Pène.
Hikes to two distinct destinations
The easy, 7-kilometre circular hike to the hermitage starts in Cases-De-Pène and takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. The hike to Torre del Far starts at the cooperative winery’s car park and leads to the former signal tower; it also takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. The estimated times are similar, but the hikes differ in their destinations and route profiles. Check trail conditions before setting out.
On the way to the hermitage, the hike passes through a wild limestone valley characterised by garrigue and rocky outcrops. This landscape is an integral part of the route: it leads not only to a historic destination, but also through a valley with a clearly defined limestone character. If you are looking in particular for an easy circular hike with a stated distance, the hermitage hike has these features.
Hermitage on the rocky ridge
The Notre-Dame-de-Pène Hermitage stands on a rocky ridge above a bend in the Agly. It was built with the sanctuary on the site of an old castle, mentioned in records since the 11th century. This place brings together a striking location and a long history. The chapel is reached by 51 steps.
The site is partly protected as a historic monument. An order dated 1 June 1992 placed the chapel and outbuildings under protection. The chapel and outbuildings are protected; the castle points to the history of the site.
The Agly, the town hall and winegrowing
The Agly passes through the Cases-De-Pène Gorge and enters the Roussillon plain. Together with the river bend below the rocky ridge, this helps explain the hermitage’s topographical setting. The hike through the limestone valley adds its own impression of the area around the village, without both routes sharing the same destination.
The village’s architecture also offers a clear point of reference: the Art Deco town hall in Cases-De-Pène dates from 1934 and is considered the second reinforced-concrete building in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. This building adds a more recent chapter in architectural history to the hermitage’s older history.
Château de Péna was founded as a cooperative winery in Cases-De-Pène in 1942. Around 30 winegrowers work together there on 450 hectares of vineyards on black schist and marl. Alongside hiking and the history of historic monuments, the winery therefore brings winegrowing into trip planning as another point of reference for the village. The figures for winegrowers and vineyard area may change over time; the founding date and the cooperative’s history describe the enduring historical connection.
Discover more destinations: Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, Canohès, Enveitg, Brouilla, Pia, Nyer, La Cabanasse, Saint-Cyprien-Plage
For the regional travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.
